Protecting the Health and Safety of Canadians

OTTAWA, Oct. 31, 2014 /CNW/ - Canada's Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander today announced new precautionary measures to protect the health and safety of Canadians.

Effective immediately, Canadian visa officers have temporarily paused the processing of visa applications from foreign nationals who have been physically present in a country designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having widespread and intense transmission of the Ebola virus. Discretion will remain for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to grant entry on a case-by-case basis in exceptional cases where travel is essential and in Canada's interest.  Apart from those instances, temporary resident applications already in process that are affected by these new measures will be returned to the applicants.

Canadian citizens, permanent residents, foreign nationals currently in possession of a visa and foreign nationals who do not require visas will continue to be screened at ports of entry in Canada and will be subject to appropriate health screening and other measures under the Quarantine Act.

These changes do not impact Canadians currently in West Africa. All Canadians, including health-care workers, currently in West Africa will be permitted to travel back to Canada. The Government of Canada continues to advise against travel to countries designated by the WHO as having widespread and intense transmission of the Ebola virus.

Ministerial Instructions providing new directions to visa officers worldwide were published in the Canada Gazette today.

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting international efforts to control the Ebola outbreak. Canada has been a world leader in responding to the crisis and continues to monitor the situation in the West Africa region to ensure humanitarian, health and security needs are met.

Quick facts

• Canada has been a world leader in fighting the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa, containing its spread and treating patients. To date Canada has committed $65.5 million to the global efforts to support the health, humanitarian and security interventions deployed to address the spread of the disease as well as an additional $2.5 million in personal protective equipment.
• To date, 800 vials of Canada's experimental Ebola vaccine have been donated to the WHO, and $57 million in humanitarian assistance has been disbursed, ranking Canada second among all donor country contributors to relief efforts.
• To date, there have not been any confirmed cases of Ebola in Canada.
• For more information on Ebola and steps the Government of Canada has taken to address the disease home and abroad, visit www.canada.ca/ebolavirus.

Quotes

"Canada has been a leader in the international efforts to respond to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The precautionary measures announced today build on actions we have taken to protect the health and safety of Canadians here at home. Our government continues to monitor the situation in West Africa very closely and will continue to act in the best interests of Canadians."

Chris Alexander, Canada's Citizenship and Immigration Minister

"All levels of government and the health sector are working together to ensure that Canadians are safe and prepared in the event of a case of Ebola in Canada. Our number one priority is to protect Canadians. We continue to work with domestic and international partners to aid efforts to respond to the outbreak in West Africa, while strengthening our domestic preparedness here at home."

Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health

Associated link

Ministerial Instructions

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Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada's economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.

SOURCE: Citizenship and Immigration Canada

For further information: Kevin Menard, Minister's Office, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 613-954-1064; Media Relations, Communications Branch, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 613-952-1650, [email protected]